Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Mobile connection in Kenya

With improvement of modern technology now most Kenyan’s are connected through the three main mobile phone providers Safaricom, Celtel and Telkom wireless.

Communication is now very easy, many are so used to their mobile phone gadgets until I wonder how we managed without mobile phones in the past.

There are many mobile phone companies in the world, however “Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. Nokia makes a wide range of mobile devices and provides people with experiences in music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility through these devices. Nokia also provides equipment, solutions and services for communications networks”. Read more

Nokia phones are also the most popular mobile phones in Kenya. You will notice nearly every Kenyan has a Nokia phone. Mobile phone prices have also reduced greatly giving more Kenyans the opportunity to own a mobile phone or more.

Nokia have introduced many makes of different prices depending on one's status, check out their makes. One make that is very common with the common Kenyan is the Nokia 1110i

However you will find that network is still a problem in some parts of Kenya. One has to move to a certain part of the home or room to get a clear network.

We have seen in the news people climbing trees upcountry to get a network. I can imagine one calling home from the US to speak to his/her grandparents or parents but end up not speaking to them when they are too old to climb the tree. Unless they are taken to a center where there is a connection.

Traveling to Magadi some 3 years back for an outing on a public holiday. The vehicle we were traveling in lost control on one of the hills and rolled back into a ditch. After getting out of the vehicle safely, we moved up on the road for help. Two Masaai came along and were very helpful. Being a public holiday there were no vehicles in sight for some time, so we decided to call for help only to realize there was no network. They informed us that the only place we could find a Safaricom network is on a hill, which was far from there or at Magadi town itself.

One of us tried to walk with them to get the network because we were still far from Magadi town. He gave up and came back realizing it would be a long walk with thorny shrubs on the way. Some motorists later rescued us and our vehicle that was badly damaged towed away.

This still happens when traveling up country to Western and other parts of Kenya, somewhere on the way the network goes off.

Nevertheless Kenya is now more connected than before, mobiles are getting cheaper and cheaper. One can now get a phone as cheap as Kshs.999/- around 15 US dollars.

However there is still a big population of Kenyan’s who cannot afford even the cheapest mobile phone.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Sue, am doing an article on this to be published before the end of the week.

We are more concerned about the effects of polution on the environment brought about by wrong disposal of mobile phones and used batteries, as well as the unregulated construction of mobile telephone base stations and mast around the cities and countryside.

Although we all desire a greater part of the population to be connected and to have cheaper access from the comfort of their homes, mobile phone manufacturers must be compelled to plough back a good percentage of their mega profits back conserving the environment while service providers like celtel and safaricom must be regulated on base station and mast erection that does not pose a serious jeopardy to public health.

Jamii said...

Thanks Phil for that information, I have never looked at it that way. Every new technology has its disadvantages.

Just like what happened with plastics no one knew they would pose a major environmental risk in future.

Anonymous said...

You are right Sue...i cant talk to my mom cause she is in those parts of Ukambani with no network coverage..And am 10,000 miles away..Shame !